Three-dimensional orbifolds and cone-manifolds (Q1582515)

The main goal of this memoir is to give an introduction to the statement and basic ideas in the proof of the Orbifold Theorem due to Thurston [see, for example, \textit{W. P. Thurston}, Three-dimensional geometry and topology, Princeton Math. Ser. 35 (1997; Zbl 0873.57001)]. The content of the book was presented in a series of fifteen lectures given by the authors at a Regional Workshop in Tokyo (July, 1998). The authors develop the basic properties of orbifolds and cone-manifolds, give an outline of a proof of the orbifold theorem, and discuss the Gromov theory of limits of metric spaces and the deformations of hyperbolic structures. This memoir is really a wonderful book containing many new ideas written by three of the most creative researchers in three-dimensional hyperbolic geometry. So I recommend the reading to any graduate student and researcher in topology and the geometry of 3-manifolds.